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50 GU I D E to Y E L L OW S P R I NG S | 2O22 – 2O23 Louise Harris Odiorne lived her life with a belief that humans and the natural world should live in synchrony, a belief that is reflected throughout her work as an architect, city planner and consultant. Odiorne, who studied at Antioch College and received her landscape architecture degree from The Ohio State University, was a founder of the Yellow Springs Community Children’s Center and the designer of the Yellow Spring — perhaps the most famous of Glen Helen Nature Preserve’s natural features, and the village namesake. The News has written about Odiorne’s work around the village, but her influence has also drawn attention from communities around the country, such as Melbourne Village, Fla. In 1946, Antioch College President Arthur Morgan introduced Odiorne and her husband, Richard, to members of the American Homestead- ing Foundation, a group from Dayton who wanted to form an intentional community near Melbourne, Fla. Morgan wrote to Virginia Wood and Elizabeth Nutty, two members of the group: “Your planner lives here in Yellow Springs. She is Louise Odiorne and is well qualified in every way to do your job.” According to “Troubled Para - dise,” a publication of the Bre - vard County historical society in Florida, the Odiornes offered their services “for membership and land,” which allowed the American Homesteading foun- dation to move forward with incorporating the village. Odiorne’s plat plans focused on linking different sections of the community with walking paths and included a canal that would flow through the village. Her designs also emphasized greenspace — parks and “hammocks,” or wooded areas villagers used for celebrations. Later in her life, Odiorne lived in Melbourne Village, tending to the land that she received for her service to the community. Today’s Mel - bourne Village is still partially owned by members of the American Homesteading Foundation. THE YELLOW SPRING In the late 1940s, Glen Helen was a constant in the Yellow Springs News. Ken- neth Hunt, the director at the time, wrote weekly columns describing the natural set- ting and discussed ways the Glen was changing to ensure the community could access nature. One of the many proj - ects that was completed was restoring the Yellow Spring to its natural state. Corinne Pelzl, Odiorne’s daughter, told the News that her mother’s goal was to restore the spring to look like it had in 1800. “Mother wanted it to look like it did before it was exploited as a water cure,” Pelzl said. According to News report- ing in 1949, Odiorne was tasked with designing the spring along with adding the steps from the street to the trails and the spring itself. Pelzl said Odiorne often worked from memory, telling foreman Carmelo Riccardi what she wanted done as it was happening. “She was going to have a landing and seating at the first turn down from the [Trailside Museum] building, but that was the part the crew was work - ing on when she went to the hospital to have my brother Ken in 1951,” Pelzl said. “She was telling them how to craft it verbally, not by drawings they could refer to while she was temporarily off the job.” Because Odiorne was off work while recovering from the birth of her son, the second landing was never built. Glen Helen visitors continue to benefit from Odiorne’s design of the Yellow Spring, the place where Pelzl said she learned to walk as Odiorne worked. GREENBELT Odiorne served on the Yellow Springs Plan Board between 1946 and 1953, and she was heavily involved in discussions regarding planning for the future of the village. According to Pelzl, Odiorne attended Village Council and Planning Commission meet - ings like one would attend a sporting event. “She wanted to knowwhat was going on, and she had an opinion on everything,” Pelzl said. As a former member of Louise Harris Odiorne— BUILDING A SYNCHRONOUS VILLAGE By JESSICA THOMAS From July 2022 ▲ Pictured in a 1975 issue of the Rohm & Hass Reporter, Louise Odiorne displayed a model of her “Human Climate Home.” P H O T O : W R I G H T S T A T E U N I V E R S I T Y S P E C I A L A R C H I V E S & C O L L E C T I O N S 30+ Years of fresh , LocaL food eVerY saTUrdaY 8 a.M.–NooN BrYaN ceNTer ParKING LoT